NZ Warriors make the grand final in NRL boilover

Signing off now. Thanks so much for your company tonight. Let's do it again soon. Good night

Who are you going to support next week? Will Sydneysiders do the unthinkable and cheer for Manly? I asked Des Hasler this very question last night. He said: ‘‘I think we’ll get a good turnout there. But Manly is Manly - that will never change.‘‘I think it’s good for footy, it’s great. It’s understood and it’s appreciated."

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Just got word through from TAB Sportsbet. Manly will start as $1.50 favourites next week, with the Warriors installed as $2.60 outsiders.

THE WRAP

What an unbelievable result! Everyone, it seemed, was expecting a Storm-Manly grand final. Someone forgot to tell the Warriors. There have never been any doubts about their ability to score points, but the way they defended ... you had to see it to believe it. Manly will be favourites but you can no longer write off this Warriors side, which is aiming to become the first one to take the trophy across the ditch.

Thanks so much for joining me in my first blog. Stay online, more to come ...

THE FULLTIME HOOTER HAS SOUNDED. It's official. The Warriors have won. What a week to be a Kiwi sports fan! They have totally dominated the Storm in their own backyard. Woooooow!

80th minute: Just seconds to go. It is starting to sink in. The Warriors have pulled off one of the great finals upsets!

78th minute: Maloney from the left touchline ... it's over!! Warriors 20-12. THE WARRIORS WILL PLAY MANLY IN THE GRAND FINAL!!

77th minute: LEWIS BROWN TRY!!!!! There is no denying him this time! Magic (Shaun) Johnson play to set it up. If the conversion goes over, the Storm are GOOOOOOOOOOOONE!

I am too excited to type!

75 minute: What about that Warriors defence?! Storm are throwing everything at them in the hope of pulling this one out of the fire

73rd minute: Claret flowing from the head of Maloney

72nd minute: "He picked Manu up like a shearer in a shearing shed" ... Rabbits magic

68th minute: Beau Champion collects Kevin Locke high. If the Storm get out of this one, there could be more judiciary drama. Champion on report for swinging arm. Matai and Champion can make dinner reservations at Fox Studios this week.

66th minute: Have no checked the stats ... was that Gus Gould's first 'Wooooow'? Big Manu held up over opposition tryline. What an upset this would be!

Record crowd announced at AAMI Park - 28,580

Game on the line. Which of the big guns will stand up? Slater? Smith? Vatuvei? Mateo?

63rd minute: Anthony Quinn hits the deck and remains there after, perhaps, getting some attention from a Warriors player

62: Great work from Matt Duffie to get out of his in-goal area

60th minute: Slater can't defuse a Maloney bomb. Can anyone recall Slater muffing two kicks in one night? In one season?

Who is looking the bigger genius right about now. Ivan Cleary? Or Gus Gould for signing him up?

57th minute: Imagine if Manu had actually collected Slater with that attempted hit. Would have been Seeya Slater.

56th minute: Did Kevin Locke just kick ahead on the first tackle? Oh my.

54th minute: Craig Bellamy looked like he was going to combust when that Cooper Cronk kick went dead

53rd minute:Great opportunity for the Storm here. Warriors will need to muscle up in defence.

I'm also charged with coming up with player ratings for tomorrow's Sun-Herald? Who do you think have been the standouts so far?

49th minute: Could Cameron Smith miss a second grand final? That shoulder charge could come under scrutiny.

Hope Kiwis aren't wasting their time watching the OTHER code that is being played tonight. Forget RWC ... get on board the Warriors bandwagon!

45th minute: Warriors continue to mount pressure after the break. In good attacking position.

Could the Warriors be on the cusp of becoming a superclub? All three grades have gone deep into the finals and their NYC team won earlier tonight 64-0.

Asked Keiran Foran who he would rather face in the decider. His response: ‘‘I’m not too fussed, they’ve both been playing great footy. They’re two pretty different sides. You know what you’re going to get from Melbourne, they’re very clinical and structured. They’re just a great team. With the Warriors there’s that unpredictability. You’re not too sure what you’re going to get next week if you get them."

How true!

How about that sign ... No baloney - that's Maloney!

Halftime wrap: What a game of football! My greatest fear was that the Warriors could get blown off the park, particularly after the Storm scored early. But the Warriors have been sensational and there is the very real possibility of an upset. James Maloney and Krisnan Inu - a couple of Parramatta rejects - have been in everything. Big Manu has provided, not for the first time, rocks and diamonds in equal share. But the late try to Champion is a reminder the Storm can hurt you anywhere, anytime. What would Manly be making of all of this? Can't wait for the second 40.

40th minute: James Maloney ensures the Warriors will go in for their halftime oranges with their noses in front. Penalty goal gives them a 14-12 lead.

Much love to Stormy from Cumberland Oval ... thanks for logging on. Don't burn down the ground if the result doesn't go your way!

37th minute: Cameron Smith converts. 12-all. What a telling blow so close to halftime. Great to see Champion stride out. The only person more excited than the Storm fans is Gold Coast CEO Michael Searle.

35th minute: Hellooooooooo! Storm have hit back courtesy of a try from Beau Champion. Where did that come from. Came from a scrum move, on Melbourne's side of halfway. Totally against the run of play!

30: I'm also interested in the entertainment in the stands. Ivan Cleary and Craig Bellamy have contrasting ways of experiencing game day

28: "The seagulls got in his way Rabs". Classic commentary. Wouldn't want to be a Sea Eagle getting in Big Manu's way if the Warriors progress next week.

26th minute: Champion drops the ball. Inu is the go-to man for the Warriors. Expect more kicks to head in his direction

25th minute: Mateo stays down after a collision with Kevin Procter. No penalty

24th minute: Big Manu spills a bomb. That ball speny more time in the air than the Warriors have throughout their whole finals campaign

21st minute: How good is Krisnan Inu going?! This from a bloke who has spent a chunk of the year playing for the Vulcans.

20th minute: Close shave for the Warriors, who remain 12-6 in front

18th minute: Maloney converts his own try.

James Maloney scores!!! What a way to celebrate his 50th appearance for the Warriors. I can smell an upset (or is that my dinner)

Knock on Melbourne. The greatest custodian of all time has made a rare error.

James Maloney converts after his kick hits the post. Love the fact that Maloney is described as a "standoff" in Warriors press releases. Sooooo English.

Warriors hit back! Bill Tupou scores after picking up the spoils from a Shaun Johnson cross kick. Game on!

Warriors just got rorted - should have got six more tackles

How about that run from Big Manu. Warriors need more of that

Cameron Smith converts. 6-0 to the Storm.

Sika Manu opens the scoring for the Storm! That was way too easy. Not the start the Warriors were looking for.

Really looking forward to the clash between the fullbacks. Kevin Locke recently admitted that Billy Slater was one of his idols.

Haka done. We're away!!!!

How about Ray Warren's tribute to Billy Slater in the opener on Channel Nine? Rabbs reckons Slater is the best fullback of all time. He should know ... he's been around long enough to see them all.

A random fact which has absolutely nothing to do with tonight's game ... Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens was an interested spectator at Concord Oval for today's Shute Shield final. For the record, Tigers-bound winger John Grant scored a try as Eastwood beat 19-16

Late changes just in ... Atela Vea in for Rory Kostjasyn for Melbourne. Feleti Mateo will be a shock weapon off the bench. Sam Rapira and Aaron Heremaia will join him there, with Lance Hohaia, Elijah Taylor and Russell Packer in the starting side.

Hello all and thanks for joining me on my blogging debut. Who is going to win the NRL grand final? I put this very question to Wayne Bennett this morning. His response, as dry as the Sahara desert, was this: "I can't tell you that today ... there's a game to be played tonight."

7 comments so far

Adrian

your blogginh debut is going well so far. Can't watch or listen to the game due to, umm, circumstances, so am relying on you !

Commenter

Stormy

Location

Cumberland Oval

Date and time

September 24, 2011, 8:13PM

"Hope Kiwis aren't wasting their time watching the OTHER code that is being played tonight. Forget RWC ... get on board the Warriors bandwagon!"

It be great Wariors winning a Grand Final providing making it through first, though most us Kiwis (except the die hard league fans) would rather win the world cup, having a way bigger international base as well.We Kiwis would be happy taking home a grand final especeallialy it being a true aussie blood sport,knowing its our third, fourth whichever sports code, go Warriors ;-)

Commenter

Go Warriors

Location

Auckland

Date and time

September 24, 2011, 9:24PM

Come on Manly - I couldn't stand it if those hateful, spiting kiwi's won anything. Anyone but New Zealand should be the rallying cry in Australia. BTW, don't holiday in NZ, they hate Australian/s. Spend your dollars at home.

Commenter

Stuart

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 24, 2011, 10:05PM

Rather see it go across the ditch than Manly.Blog needs work, you're supposed to let people know what's happening, not just comment on what's on tv.

Commenter

Harry Gumboot

Location

Newcastle

Date and time

September 24, 2011, 10:24PM

Nice blog! (read this as a recap after getting home from the game) ... good work.

Commenter

Damian

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

September 24, 2011, 11:29PM

go the warriors - melbourne is behind you guys now.

Commenter

stormie

Location

melbourne

Date and time

September 24, 2011, 11:37PM

Firstly congrats must go to the Warriors win tonight, too good on the night,Secondly a great effort by the Storm boys this year. You made us very very proud. Will always be a proud Stormer for life.